About Henry
Henry C. Whitaker is an accomplished American attorney who served as the Solicitor General of Florida from July 2021 until January 2025. Born on April 29, 1978, in Falls Church, Virginia, he has built a distinguished career in law and public service. Whitaker earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Yale University in 2000, graduating magna cum laude. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for his legal career, which he furthered at Harvard Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor in 2003, also magna cum laude. Following his graduation from Harvard, Whitaker gained inexperience by clerking for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. These prestigious clerkships provided him with insights into the judicial process and prepared him for a career in appellate law. In 2004, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served on the Appellate Staff of the Civil Division for nearly nine years. During this time, Whitaker argued more than 40 appeals in federal appellate courts, showcasing his expertise in complex legal issues. In 2017, Whitaker was appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel.
In this role, he advised the White House Counsel and cabinet secretaries on constitutional and statutory matters, further solidifying his reputation as a legal expert. His leadership skills were recognized in 2020 when he was promoted to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. This position allowed him to influence significant legal decisions at the federal level, demonstrating his commitment to upholding the law. In July 2021, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody appointed Whitaker as the state's Solicitor General. In this capacity, he represented Florida in high-profile cases before both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court. His responsibilities also included providing legal advice on appellate cases in state and federal courts.
Beyond his role in government, Whitaker served as the Richard W. Ervin Visiting Professor at the Florida State University College of Law, where he taught advanced courses in appellate procedure and constitutional law. Whitaker resigned from his position as Solicitor General on January 17, 2025, to pursue another opportunity — Following his departure, Jeffrey Paul DeSousa was appointed as Acting Solicitor General. In addition to his professional roles, Whitaker is an active member of the Federalist Society, engaging in discussions on constitutional law and policy. As of February 2026, he continues to reside in Tallahassee, Florida, and is admitted to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Whitaker's career reflects a steadfast commitment to public service and legal scholarship, with significant contributions to both federal and state legal systems.
